The Senator representing Oyo Central Senatorial district has expressed shock, sadness and regret over the death of another staunch Awoist in Oyo State, Chief Samuel Mojere Akindele. The All Progressives Congress (APC) in Oyo State has now lost three prominent political leaders within ten days.
Chief SM Afolabi who died in the early hours of Sunday in an hospital in Ogbomoso joined Chiefs Samuel Farinu and Salahudeen Adelere of blessed memory.
Chief Akindele was an Oyo-born great politician. Until his demise, he was the Oyo Central Senatorial Chairman of APC and member of the recently inaugurated Oyo APC Reconciliation Committee.
Oloye Folarin, in a condolence statement made available to journalists in Ibadan on Sunday by his Special Adviser on Media and Publicity, Com. YSO Olaniyi, described late SM Akindele as a staunch awoist. He said Chief Akindele will be sorely missed by the progressives family, the Oyo State APC and the people of the ancient town of Oyo.
Part of the statement reads: “I feel deeply sad and shattered to learn of the death of our father and great leader, Chief SM Akindele. Baba was an Awoist all through his lifetime. His contributions to progressive causes were laudable. He was quite steadfast and dogged in defence of good governance and progressive politicking in Nigeria. His death has robbed the progressive family of one of its eloquent defenders”.
“Baba passed on at a time when his wealth of experience and qualitative leadership would have been useful to the reconciliation agenda of Oyo APC. What a painful loss!”
“I commiserate with Chief Akindele family, His Imperial Majesty Oba (Dr.) Lamidi Olayiwola Adeyemi III (the Alaafin of Oyo), the APC worldwide and the good people of Oyo Alaafin. May Chief Akindele’s soul find solace in the bosom of our God as I pray that all of us – his sons, social and political colleagues and families– have the fortitude to bear his loss” the statement concluded.